Methods and apparatus to secure a ground strap assembly to an electrically conductive member

Abstract

A grounding connector having at least a first layer and a second layer. A conductor, such as a grounding wire, is secured between the first layer and the second layer. The first and second layers are made of a material with the same or similar galvanic potentials as the conductor such that galvanic corrosion between the conductor and the first and second layers is minimized.

1. An electrical connector for use in connecting a conductor to an electrically conductive structure, the connector comprising:
 a bendable strap for mechanically and electrically securing the connector to the electrically conductive structure;  
 a clip having at least one flange located to substantially prevent rotation of the clip relative to the bendable strap;  
 a shim;  
 a fastener securing the clip and the shim to the clamp such that the conductor can be captured between the clip and the shim; and  
 the clip and the shim being made of conductive material with same or generally similar galvanic potentials as the material of the conductor.  
 
   
   
     2. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the shim includes at least one stop located to substantially prevent rotation of the shim relative to the bendable strap. 
   
   
     3. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising a threaded member defining a threaded bore for receiving the fastener, the clip defines a second bore for receiving the fastener, the shim defines a third bore for receiving the fastener and the strap defines a fourth bore for receiving the fastener, and wherein the fastener is positioned within the threaded bore, the second bore, the third bore and the fourth bore. 
   
   
     4. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the threaded member includes a hook and the end of the bendable strap defines a fifth bore positioned to received the hook such that the hook extends through the bendable strap with the threaded bore on one side of the bendable strap and the hook on an opposite side of the bendable strap. 
   
   
     5. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the shim surrounds at least a portion of the hook. 
   
   
     6. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the bendable strap defines a hook aperture positioned to receive the hook when the bendable strap is wrapped around the electrically conductive structure. 
   
   
     7. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the clip and the shim comprise copper. 
   
   
     8. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the clip and the shim comprise brass. 
   
   
     9. An electrical connector for connecting a conductor to an electrically conductive structure, the connector comprising:
 a clamp securing the connector to the electrically conductive structure;  
 a grounding clip;  
 a grounding shim;  
 a bendable strap;  
 a fastener securing the grounding clip, the grounding shim, and the bendable strap together and to the clamp; and  
 wherein a conductor can be captured between the grounding clip and the grounding shim, the grounding clip and the grounding shim being made of metals with the same or similar galvanic potentials as the material of the conductor.  
 
   
   
     10. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the bendable strap includes the clamp. 
   
   
     11. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the grounding clip and the grounding shim comprise copper. 
   
   
     12. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the grounding clip and the grounding shim comprise brass. 
   
   
     13. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the conductor comprises copper, the grounding clip and the grounding shim comprise copper, and the bendable strap comprises galvanized steel. 
   
   
     14. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the conductor comprises copper, the grounding clip and the grounding shim comprise brass, and the bendable strap comprises galvanized steel. 
   
   
     15. An electrical connector assembly for connecting a conductor to an electrically conductive structure comprising:
 a bendable strap;  
 a grounding clip;  
 a grounding shim; and  
 a fastener securing the grounding clip and the grounding shim to the bendable strap.  
 
   
   
     16. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the grounding clip and the grounding shim are made of materials with the same or similar galvanic potentials as the conductor. 
   
   
     17. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the grounding dip includes at least one flange located to substantially prevent the rotation of the clip relative to the bendable strap. 
   
   
     18. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the at least one flange is positioned adjacent a side of the bendable strap. 
   
   
     19. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the at least one flange comprises a first flange and a second flange opposite the first flange, the first flange and second flange being downwardly oriented. 
   
   
     20. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 17  wherein grounding clip includes at least one upwardly oriented flange located to facilitate the insertion of the conductor between the grounding clip and the grounding shim. 
   
   
     21. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the at least one upwardly oriented flange comprises a first upwardly oriented flange and a second upwardly oriented flange located opposite the first upwardly oriented flange. 
   
   
     22. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the grounding dip defines a bore for receiving the fastener. 
   
   
     23. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the grounding shim is disposed adjacent a first surface of the bendable strap and the connector further comprises a threaded member having a body disposed adjacent a second surface of the bendable strap opposite the first surface. 
   
   
     24. An electrical connector in accordance with  23  wherein the threaded member defines a threaded bore for receiving the fastener. 
   
   
     25. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 24  wherein the grounding clip defines a first bore, the grounding shim defines a second bore, and the bendable strap defines a third bore; wherein the threaded bore is registerable with the first, second, and third bores. 
   
   
     26. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 25  wherein an end of the bendable strap is bent downward to form a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion; wherein the threaded member is disposed between the first portion and third portion. 
   
   
     27. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 26  wherein the third portion is formed to mate with the electrically conductive structure. 
   
   
     28. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 26  wherein the threaded member includes a hook and the second portion of the bendable strap defines an aperture through which the hook extends. 
   
   
     29. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 28  wherein the hook extends downwardly and outwardly from the body of the threaded member. 
   
   
     30. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the grounding shim includes a body portion and an end portion and an end of the bendable strap is bent to form a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion; wherein the first portion and the second portion of the bendable strap define a first angle and wherein the body portion and the end portion of the grounding shim define a second angle which corresponds to the first angle. 
   
   
     31. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 30  wherein the end portion of the grounding shim defines an aperture through which the hook of the threaded member extends. 
   
   
     32. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 30  wherein the body portion of the grounding shim defines a bore for receiving the fastener. 
   
   
     33. An electrical connector in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the connector further comprises a nut secured to the fastener, the nut located between a head of the fastener and the ground clip. 
   
   
     34. A method for grounding a conductor comprising:
 providing an electrical connector with a grounding clip, a grounding shim, and a bendable strap, wherein the grounding clip and the grounding shim are formed from metals with the same or similar galvanic potentials as the material of the conductor;  
 fastening the grounding clip, the grounding shim, and the bendable strap together with a fastener;  
 inserting a conductor between the grounding clip and the grounding shim;  
 clamping the conductor between grounding clip and the grounding shim such that unintentional removal is prohibited; and  
 securing the bendable strap to a electrically conductive structure.  
 
   
   
     35. A method according to  claim 34  wherein the fastener includes a nut and the conductor is secured between the grounding clip and the grounding shim by tightening a nut adjacent the grounding clip.